Language development is amazing. I wish I understood the process, but I do feel as if I am in the laboratory watching it all unfold. Seeing Katya learn English is just fun and as my friend Sara is observing, the process happens quickly and we need to enjoy the idiosyncrasies while they last.
Today, after playing in the woods behind our house with Josiah for a couple of hours, Katya came running into the house. “Katya see Josiah’s …” and then eyes looking at the ceiling, searching her word warehouse, finger tapping on her chin, mouth screwed to the side, and then the lightbulb turns on … “BUNNY! Katya see Josiah’s BUNNY!”
But, this is my favorite. As she has been introduced to new foods like vegetarian chili, black bean soup, and lasagna, old familiars remain the favorite – anything with ketchup, hard-boiled eggs, tomatoes, cucumbers, and of course potatoes. However, yesterday I went to the grocery store for the FIRST TIME since I returned last Wednesday, thanks to the AMAZING support we have around us and a superb husband who made sure the refrigerator was well stocked, and I brought home bananas. This morning Katya saw them for the first time and eagerly declared, “Katya is like 100 bananas!”
Since I’ve heard this phraseology when she sees the aforementioned favorites, but without the “100,” I easily understood her to be saying that she REALLY likes bananas. 
“Katya is like … ” We’re treasuring these “Katya-isms,” soaking up the moments, learning her “likes,” and watching with wonder as this precious lamb becomes part of our family.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Cindy! I just couldn’t stand it any longer – I had to post this time! I found your site about 2 weeks ago and my husband and I are wirjubg to adopt an older girl – working w/ Maggie too!!! She’s the BEST!!! I have to tell you “WELCOME HOME” to you and Katya and I want to thank you for your web site! It’s amazing and full of so much valuable info!!! With that said – what you don’t know is how many times in the last 2 weeks we have used a Katya-ism!! We too, have goldens – and we are laughing every night waiting for our daughter to get here to say “Bentley, Charlie – STAND”!!!! It’s priceless and that litte “tid bit” of humor helps to keep us going!!!! By the time Ira gets here we figure our two goldens will understand “STAND”!!! hahaha Bless you and your wonderful family and thank you for keeping this site going – it brings more help and hope than you can imagine!!!! Cindy Henson
We had many Katya-isms around our house as well, except they were Karina-isms. lol One of the early phrases was ‘putyourclosers’, ‘put your clothes on’ for those of us who speak English;) Our first daughter, Karina, would say whole sentences like they were long words. Since she’s been with us for almost two years, she’s stopped saying this. It’s good that you are relishing these first attempts at English. Before you know it, she’ll be speaking fluently with no Katya-isms.
BTW – We homeschool as well. It seems like the best way our daughters have learned English is by immersion.
June